Loving life without gears...

[henningvr]

It’s only been about a month and a half since I got my STR 29, and what a month and a half this has been. I have been having a real blast. After my ride yesterday I realized that I was content. I had the perfect single speed MTB. Note, this means the perfect single speed MTB for me. Practically speaking there is nothing I have to add or change on the bike, nor do I want to. This was a nice realization, because now I can focus 100% on riding and not think about “what do I have to get, how much will it cost” etc.

 

Before I decided to go the SS route, I was told by friends and fellow riders that I was going through a phase, I have lost my marbles, and that I’d be back on gears in no time. They have a surprise coming, lol.

 

Yesterday I forgot my GPS at home, and only noticed it halfway into the ride. I shrugged and kept riding. One less thing to bother with I figured.

 

At the risk of repeating myself and many other people, here’s what I like about SS:

 

The simplicity. The low maintenance. No gears, no gear cables, no ghost shifting. The quietness of the drive train. The fun factor — this one is hard to explain, because I know from experience that riding a geared bike is a hell of a lot of fun too. However, riding a SS on the same single tracks than what I rode my geared bike on is very, very different. And this is where the fun thing really shows. Less thinking about gear selection, leave the brakes alone as much as possible to keep the momentum up, and just ride. Attack the climbs, out of the saddle. I’m actually starting to enjoy climbing. No, really. I just smile every time I conquer a hard climb. Lekker.

 

Yesterday I rode at a medium pace and just enjoyed the scenery. I took my time and enjoyed the ride, smiling as I cranked up a few steep hills and blasted down some jeep tracks/single track. I waved at the locals, stopped for a chat with a few, with the focus of "racing" my bike pushed to the background, just riding my bike and having fun, exploring more local trails and routes.

 

I often think back when I was a laaitie, riding my dikwiel, and I smile. Now I am riding a dikwiel again, just a bit fancier and a hell of a lot more capable.

 

Loving life without gears so far. Ride on, have fun.

 

[johannrissik]

???? Great description.

May the "phase" last a very long time.

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Riding a SS in Waterval Boven requires some leg strength !

Enjoy .

[NotSoBigBen]

I have 2 bikes that quite a few of my fellow riders said I was wasting my time with and would end up hanging from the rafters ..... my SingleSpeed Rigid and my MonsterCross, from the 'where has your bike taken you' thread you will notice that I ride both of those quite a lot actually

 

Every year since I've had a singlespeed I ride that exclusively for the period after the annual end of year 24hour race (first week in December) and the Fast one road race end of January 

 

We camp at least once a month and I always take the MonsterCross with, also my go to bike when I have limited time on the weekend but want to get in a long ride

[Allrounder]

nice

[PhilipV]

Awesome thread! Enjoy your bike.

SS is a BMX for grown-ups.

[the nerd]

Its just a bike choice... 

 

My SS will always be my favorite bike!

 

Rigid and made of metal the way it should be!

[popcorn_skollie]

Great description.

May the "phase" last a very long time.

 

Haha. My SS phase lasted a month. 

 

Henning. Volgende maand bel ek jou net om seker te maak die fiets bly sonder ratte. 

 

Flat pedals on a rigid SS...

[NotSoBigBen]

Its just a bike choice... 

 

My SS will always be my favorite bike!

 

Rigid and made of metal the way it should be!

 

 

[henningvr]

 

 

Henning. Volgende maand bel ek jou net om seker te maak die fiets bly sonder ratte. 

 

Ja, jy kan maar bel  

 

My rear hub is a Rapidé SS hub, so no option for gears, unless I have my wheel rebuilt.

[the nerd]

1393222_i_dont_blive_it__jpg63879902d0412c31df5a282f3c91a7f9.jpeg

 

Ok tupperware is allowed sometimes... just not in my store room! 

[johannrissik]

Just as an aside....last week I met up with a couple who have been touring through Africa for three years.

 

On fixies. 

 

Eat that.

[Pure Savage]

I thought the title of this thread meant it was another riding with kids thread about balance bikes

[the nerd]

I thought the title of this thread meant it was another riding with kids thread about balance bikes

 

Almost :-) 

[henningvr]

I thought the title of this thread meant it was another riding with kids thread about balance bikes

PS, you know you secretly want to convert that road bike to SS.

[Jewbacca]

I hear you...

 

My SS has certainly been around the block a few times.

 

Busy doing a bike room clean out and the SIR9 is sitting staring at me from the rail, unbuilt and bare. The scars, the raw spots, the scratches all reminded me of 'that RASA' or some other adventure where maintenance was not a problem.

 

Enjoy it Henning.

 

May it last forever

 

(If anyone has seen Steve Shapiro spinning through the forests and back roads in Cape Town on his bike.... Steel SS at a very tender age indeed)